Friday, November 28, 2008
Back In The Western World
And with a lot to catch up on. Mexico and Cuba were awesome, internet access is very restricted in Cuba so I didn´t keep the blog up to date but kept a diary of sorts and will be updating soon. Hopefully with some awesome photos too. Watch this space!
Saturday, November 8, 2008
River Bend
Have moved into the River Bend Resort where my friend Lucy is working. Staying in a dorm with 3 guys who all work them in a kind of work trade deal, ie they handiwork on the resort and get accomodation. Have made good use of the hot springs, was even out there when it was freezing last night. Despite being in the desert it was below freezing tonight, although back to normal and nice and warm today. Last night had a Persian meal with Maya and her friend Ruth, a septenarian artist who showed me her studio and art. Spent this morning in the tub, and chilling in the music shop with Reed and David. Reed played guitar, David drums and I just added vibes as best I could. Just listening now to Kanye Wests new track http://www.kanyeuniversecity.com/blog/?em3106=212776_-1__0_~0_-1_5_2008_0_0&em3161=&em3281=
its a departure from his old stuff and may take a couple of listens for me to get into it. I am eating alot here, the restaurants are all cheap as chips and give you so much food. The diner round the corner charges $3.25 for 2 bacpn, 2 eggs and 2 huge pancakes plus coffee for breakfast. On Thursday night I ate 2 plates of food for dinner. I think i must have put on some timber since I got into town. Just a well, i heard the food in Cuba is bland so best fill my boots now!
its a departure from his old stuff and may take a couple of listens for me to get into it. I am eating alot here, the restaurants are all cheap as chips and give you so much food. The diner round the corner charges $3.25 for 2 bacpn, 2 eggs and 2 huge pancakes plus coffee for breakfast. On Thursday night I ate 2 plates of food for dinner. I think i must have put on some timber since I got into town. Just a well, i heard the food in Cuba is bland so best fill my boots now!
Friday, November 7, 2008
Photos
Click on the photos below to launch a slideshow of photos from Vancouver and Seatlle, hopefully this works and planning to get all pics up in next couple of days. Currently in Truth or Consequences, New Mexico. A pretty small town, population about 8000 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Truth_or_Consequences,_New_Mexico
famed for its hot springs and home town to mass murderer David Parker Ray who was sentenced to 224 years in prison for murdering a least 12 -60 people. Visiting an old friend from Birmingham, Lucy who is doing a work trade with a hot springs resort on the river. Staying with a lovely couchsurfing host Maya and her gorgeous dog Chica. Its a real friendly town, had my breakfast paid for today by Gil, a 62 year old retired New Mexican, we talked for over an hour over a traditional US breakfast of pancakes, bacon and eggs washed down with plenty of coffee. I bought a very nice sheepskin coat from a jumble sale for $2 as it gets really cold at night, even though we are in the desert. Trained some kung fu with Lucy, she still remembers her Lau Gar forms which is great and showed her some Wing Chun too. Planning on going to an art hop and then doing a hike befoe leaving on Sunday. Not that much else to do here, but it is a town full of very friendly characters. According to my pal Gil it is the closest you will find in the USA to what the Old West was like
famed for its hot springs and home town to mass murderer David Parker Ray who was sentenced to 224 years in prison for murdering a least 12 -60 people. Visiting an old friend from Birmingham, Lucy who is doing a work trade with a hot springs resort on the river. Staying with a lovely couchsurfing host Maya and her gorgeous dog Chica. Its a real friendly town, had my breakfast paid for today by Gil, a 62 year old retired New Mexican, we talked for over an hour over a traditional US breakfast of pancakes, bacon and eggs washed down with plenty of coffee. I bought a very nice sheepskin coat from a jumble sale for $2 as it gets really cold at night, even though we are in the desert. Trained some kung fu with Lucy, she still remembers her Lau Gar forms which is great and showed her some Wing Chun too. Planning on going to an art hop and then doing a hike befoe leaving on Sunday. Not that much else to do here, but it is a town full of very friendly characters. According to my pal Gil it is the closest you will find in the USA to what the Old West was like
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Hot Dog, Jumping Frog, Albuquerque
Forgot to mention some stuff about Albuquerque (hometown of Neil Patrick Harris, aka Doogie Howser MD). We visited the Petroglyph National Monument Volcanoes http://www.nps.gov/petr/planyourvisit/volcanoes.htm which are believed to be a direct spiritual source to Mother Earth by the Pueblo Indians. Had a bit of a mishap when Christine, one of my hosts backed her truck into a ditch and got the thing stuck! We were ably assisted by a Park Ranger called Dave who was a great guy. Park Ranger are basically cops who look after parks rather than city streets, so he could arrest people and carried a gun, but he didnt arrest or shoot us so that was cool. He encouraged me to visit Guatemala on my travels and insisted we talk a walk towards the volcanoes, which I'm glad we did as I got some great photos of the sunset over them and the mountains to the other side of the city. We eventually got pulled out of the ditch by a tow truck and headed back home.
It was Christines birthday that day so a bunch of us went for a really nice dinner. I asked the group if they knew the song King of Rock and Roll by Prefab Sprout http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9AG5-Zur-zo which features the immortal line "Hot Dog, Jumping Frog, Albuquerque" in its verse. They didn't. Oh well.
It was Christines birthday that day so a bunch of us went for a really nice dinner. I asked the group if they knew the song King of Rock and Roll by Prefab Sprout http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9AG5-Zur-zo which features the immortal line "Hot Dog, Jumping Frog, Albuquerque" in its verse. They didn't. Oh well.
Yes We Can
As you have probably heard, the USA has a new President elect. I spent last night at the Democratic Party HQ in Albuquerque, New Mexico. It was wonderful to see people so full of hope and an incredible scene when McCain conceded the election, even better when Obama made his speech. People were crying with joy, dancing in the streets, you could feel the sense of hope and relief that there is going to be a change and it was great to witness it.
I've been here for the last couple of days, on my way to a town called Truth or Consequence (named after a TV game show!) to see an old friend from home, Lucy. Have stayed with two lovely hosts, Monica and Christine who were both over the moon with last nights result.
I had spent the previous week in LA. Originally had only planned to stay for a night on my way through but was persuaded otherwise by my awesome host Peak, she convinced me of some fun things to do as she had just lost her job so had loads of free time to show me round. After quite alot of partying recently in SF and Vancouver it was nice to have a more calm week, although of course Halloween is a huge party here. I dressed up as Austin Powers (as I have the glasses and accent it made sense) and we spent the night partying at some friends appartment and then went up to West Hollywood for the Halloween parade, a real freak show. However, I'm jumping ahead as alot happened earlier in the week.
Highlights of LA included singing "The Wichita Lineman" by Glen Campbell http://wyoutube.comww./watch?v=4qoymGCDYzU at a karaoke night in a Thai restaurant; going to the coolest lounge bar ever, The Dresden Room http://www.thedresden.com/lounge.html where we watched the legendary Marty and Elayne perform; going to a Krav Maga martial arts class; riding a tandem along Venice beach; an avant garde jazz concert performed at the Hammer Museum by Larry Ochs Sax http://www.outpostspace.org/node/566 , we even went for dinner in a swanky restaurant afterwards with the band, the drummer is a friend of Peaks, and even better the Hammer museum kindly picked up the bill! Another friend of Peaks was an actress who we watched dress rehearse her one woman show where she plays 4 characters, it was really impressive.
Probably my favourite experience though was going over to San Pedro to watch another of Peaks friends, Mike Watts record his monthly Podcast. It is recorded at his friends house, affectionately known as "The Love Grotto", home to the most righteous Brother Matt. We got there an hour late (of course) but were warmly received as we brought gifts of sushi, Doritos and salsa. The show always kicks off with a track from John Coltrane and lasts 3 hours, a combination of great, eclectic music, conversation and a 30 minute chill out mix from Brother Matt. I didn't realise how interactive our roles would be, Mike asked me about my favourite band (of course I answered The Stone Roses) amongst other questions and discussions the group had. It can be heard at http://twfps.com/ , I'm even listed as a guest on the website synopsis of the show, how bizarre! Anyway, there is some great music on there so worth a listen.
Other highlights of LA included the Nakatomi Building from Die Hard (it is in one piece, not like at the end of the movie) and the Getty Museum, which is beautiful.
As always dear reader uploading photos is awkward. Public libraries don't tend to let users connect anything to the PCs so I will try to get some shots up soon.
Next stop will be Truth or Consequence, where I am definitely looking forward to enjoying the hot springs. On Monday I leave for Mexico City, and from there Cuba where I am really looking forward to hearing the wonderful local music.
I've been here for the last couple of days, on my way to a town called Truth or Consequence (named after a TV game show!) to see an old friend from home, Lucy. Have stayed with two lovely hosts, Monica and Christine who were both over the moon with last nights result.
I had spent the previous week in LA. Originally had only planned to stay for a night on my way through but was persuaded otherwise by my awesome host Peak, she convinced me of some fun things to do as she had just lost her job so had loads of free time to show me round. After quite alot of partying recently in SF and Vancouver it was nice to have a more calm week, although of course Halloween is a huge party here. I dressed up as Austin Powers (as I have the glasses and accent it made sense) and we spent the night partying at some friends appartment and then went up to West Hollywood for the Halloween parade, a real freak show. However, I'm jumping ahead as alot happened earlier in the week.
Highlights of LA included singing "The Wichita Lineman" by Glen Campbell http://wyoutube.comww./watch?v=4qoymGCDYzU at a karaoke night in a Thai restaurant; going to the coolest lounge bar ever, The Dresden Room http://www.thedresden.com/lounge.html where we watched the legendary Marty and Elayne perform; going to a Krav Maga martial arts class; riding a tandem along Venice beach; an avant garde jazz concert performed at the Hammer Museum by Larry Ochs Sax http://www.outpostspace.org/node/566 , we even went for dinner in a swanky restaurant afterwards with the band, the drummer is a friend of Peaks, and even better the Hammer museum kindly picked up the bill! Another friend of Peaks was an actress who we watched dress rehearse her one woman show where she plays 4 characters, it was really impressive.
Probably my favourite experience though was going over to San Pedro to watch another of Peaks friends, Mike Watts record his monthly Podcast. It is recorded at his friends house, affectionately known as "The Love Grotto", home to the most righteous Brother Matt. We got there an hour late (of course) but were warmly received as we brought gifts of sushi, Doritos and salsa. The show always kicks off with a track from John Coltrane and lasts 3 hours, a combination of great, eclectic music, conversation and a 30 minute chill out mix from Brother Matt. I didn't realise how interactive our roles would be, Mike asked me about my favourite band (of course I answered The Stone Roses) amongst other questions and discussions the group had. It can be heard at http://twfps.com/ , I'm even listed as a guest on the website synopsis of the show, how bizarre! Anyway, there is some great music on there so worth a listen.
Other highlights of LA included the Nakatomi Building from Die Hard (it is in one piece, not like at the end of the movie) and the Getty Museum, which is beautiful.
As always dear reader uploading photos is awkward. Public libraries don't tend to let users connect anything to the PCs so I will try to get some shots up soon.
Next stop will be Truth or Consequence, where I am definitely looking forward to enjoying the hot springs. On Monday I leave for Mexico City, and from there Cuba where I am really looking forward to hearing the wonderful local music.
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